CEBU CITY, Philippines (PNA) – The Bureau of Customs (BoC) Port of Cebu will appeal to Customs Commissioner Angelito Alvarez to reduce the revenue collection goal of P9.3 billion for 2011 to P8 billion.

Cebu Customs District Collector Ronnie Silvestre said BOC Port of Cebu personnel will also suffer under the Lateral Attrition Law if the agency is unable in meeting it.

The law, which covers the BoC and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, rewards those who surpass the target collection by 30 percent, but dismisses those who do not meet the target.

W.B. VISITS NEGROS PROJECT

ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines (PNA) – A six-man World Bank (WB) mission has conducted a two-day inspection and review of the implementation of the KALAHI-CIDSS (Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services) project in Negros Occidental.

KALAHI-CIDSS is a government anti-poverty reduction program funded by the World Bank implemented starting in 2003. Total grant released for Region VI reached P744.89 million for the period 2003 until January 11,2011.

CEBU ARCHDIOCESE DIVISION EYED

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Former Cebu Archbishop Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal, in a recent media gathering, expressed his support for dividing the archdiocese as suggested by newly installed Archbishop Jose Palma.

Vidal said he favors Palma’s idea and said he had already been thinking about the same thing but had been advised to wait until his successor takes over.

Vidal’s plan was to divide the archdiocese ino three areas – north, south, and Metro Cebu, with each governed by a bishop to be appointed by the Pope. (Phoebe Jen Indino)

ALCALA GRACES BOHOL UBIFEST

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Philippines (PNA) – Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has cited the role of farmers and the agriculture sector in the country's food security and national growth.

Alcala opened the three-day Bohol Organic Agriculture Summit and 11th Ubi Festival at the Bohol Cultural Center here on Monday. His first official visit to Bohol as agriculture secretary winds up on Wednesday.

The twin events anchor on the theme Pagpalig-on ug Pagpakuyanap sa Malungtarong Panguma, Tubag sa Hulga sa Naga-usab nga Klima (Strengthening and Promoting Sustainable Agriculture, Response to Climate Change) and sub-theme Garbo sa mga Bol-anon, Ubi nga Bililhon, Tinubdan sa Panginabuhian ug Pagkaon (Pride of Boholanos, Priceless Ubi, Source of Livelihood and Food). (PNA)

DAUIN’S COPS URGED TO IMPROVE SKILLS

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Philippines (PNA) – The Philippine National Police Regional Training Unit Director of Region 7, Supt. Renato Dugan, is strongly challenging the 32 police personnel of the police station of Dauin, Negros Oriental to use their knowledge and practice their skills learned during a recent seven-day-Back to Basic training.

The police personnel formally completed the Back to Basic training recently.

The Dauin PNP station is the first batch of graduates that completed the Back to Basic training in Negros Oriental and Central Visayas, said provincial police director Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas.